Slot wedge for rotatable electrical devices



Nov. 28, 1967 J. w. STAFF 3,3 0 v SLOT WEDGE FOR ROTATABLE ELECCCCCCCCCCCC ES United States Patent 3,355,61 51.01 WEDGE FUR ROTATABLEELEQTRICAL BEVIUES Jack W. Stud, Eiyria, Ohio, assignor, by mesneassignments, to The G. 1. Company, Eiyria, Ghio, a corporation of OhioFiled Aug. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 385,470 4 Ciaims. (ill. 3111-214) Myinvention relates to a slot wedge for rotatable electrical devices suchas the rotatable members of dynamoelectric machines, such as armatures,rotors, etc. and relates more particularly to improved means forsecuring the same in predetermined position and locking the same againstmovement in use.

An object of my invention is to particularly provide improved slotwedges for rotatable electrical devices for use in commutator-typemotors and providing improved locking means for locking the said slotWedges in place.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved slot wedges andlocking means of the type referred to which are economical inmanufacture, easily assembled and highly efficient in use.

Further objects of my invention and the invention itself will becomemore readily apparent from a review of the following description, inwhich description reference will be made to the accompanying drawings,in which drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a rotatable armature member showingthe slot wedges of my invention in place;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of a part of the armature illustrated inFIGURE 1 showing the slot wedge of my invention locked in position witha star-shaped end insulator;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the improved slot wedge of myinvention drawn to reduced scale;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a part of the star-shaped insulator ofFIGURES 1 and 2 and shows the preferred relative positioning and size ofthe same with respect to the armature laminations covered thereby.

Referring to the drawings, in all of which like parts are designated bylike reference characters, I show a dynamo-electric machine providedwith a laminated core having winding slots 11 therein and mounted on asupporting shaft 12. The armature is provided with a winding 13extending through the winding slots 11 and connected to a commutator(not shown). The sides of the winding are preferably placed ininsulating slot cells 15 lining the slots 11 and are retained therein bythe improved slot wedges 1d of my invention which are wedged over thewinding, fitting snugly over the same.

The slot wedges 16 are of unique construction consisting of arectangular flat slot stick member 17 of slightly greater width than themouth X of the slot, said stick member having a pair of Wings 18 angledobliquely at either side relative thereto and disposed at the outermostend thereof, each of said wings being provided with a preferablyU-shaped notch 18 and inwardly tapered lowermost sides 19, said notchesbeing in alignment. The slot wedges 16 are adapted to have their notchedends snapped into locking engagement with teeth 20 of a star-shapedinsulating end piece 21 positioned at the end of the armature 10opposite the commutator end thereof, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. Theteeth 20, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, have tips 20" preferably ofgreater depth than the tip ends of the armature teeth 14 and said tipsoverlap portions of the mouth X of the armature slot 11. These tips 24)are, however, shown as preferably of lesser width than the teeth 20' ofthe core 11 and terminate, in the form shown, radially inwardly of theends of the teeth of the armature.

3,355,618 Patented Nov. 28, 1867 As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, anoutermost end of the winged portions 18 of each of the slot wedges 16and the notched portions thereof project beyond the ends of the slots,the notches seating the teeth of the star insulator therein, and thoseportions of the wings of the slot wedge below the notched portions arebent inwardly to conform to the formation of the walls of the slots andthe slot cells surrounding the same.

It is to be noted that the slot wedges terminate, in the form shownherein, short of the commutator end of the armature slots and afterbeing wedged into position in the slots, are securely locked in place bythe seating of the star insulator Within the notch 8 of the wingedportions of the wedges, whereby the wedge is prevented from furtherlongitudinal movement in the slot. Hence the interengagement or lockingsof shoulders 22 of the notch with the star insulator 21 determines theposition of the slot Wedge within the slot and prevents movement orloosening thereof, in operation.

The star or end insulator piece 21 and the slot wedges 16 are preferablyof fiber or other insulating material.

Although the form of the embodiment of my invention as hereinillustrated and described as preferable, it will be understood thatvarious modifications, etc. might be made therein, without however,departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. A slot wedge for use in a winding slot in a dynamoelectric rotatablemember, said slot wedge adapted to be arranged over a winding in saidslot, said slot wedge consisting of a rectangular stick member having apair of laterally extending wing portions adapted to project beyond saidslot, each said wing portion being provided with a notch therein, an endinsulator member having a plurality of teeth extending radially andoutwardly thereof, said end insulator member being positioned flush withan end of said rotatable member, the notches in said slot 'wedge wingportions receiving teeth of said end insulator member, locking the wedgein said slot.

2. Slot wedges for use in winding slots in a dynamoelectric rotatablemember having windings in said slots, said slot wedges adapted to bearranged over said windings in the slots, each wedge having a pair oflaterally extending wing portions adapted to project outwardly from anend of said slot, each said wing portion being provided with a U-shapednotch therein, a star-shaped end insulator member positioned flush withsaid end of said slotted rotatable member, said insulator member beinglocked in said position by seating of teeth thereof in said notches andsaid wedges being locked in engagement within the slots, said insulatormember and said wedges being in interlocked engagement.

3. Slot wedges as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the said teeth ofthe insulator member being disposed in overlapping relation to the mouthof said slots.

4. Slot Wedges as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the wing portionshaving radially outward tapered portions wedged into engagement with theslot walls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,519,861 12/1924 McEldowney310265 2,283,146 5/ 1942 Zoller 3 10214 2,381,533 8/1942 Forss 310--2332,831,991 4/1958 Perkins 310 234 2,998,540 8/1961 Phillips 3102142,745,030 5/ 6 Baldwin 310-214 MILTON O. I-IIRSHFIELD, Primary Examiner.

MAX L. LEVY, Examiner.

J. W. GIBBS, J. J. SWARTZ, Assistant Examiners.

1. A SLOT WEDGE FOR USE IN A WINDING SLOT IN A DYNAMOELECTRIC ROTATABLEMEMBER, SAID SLOT WEDGE ADAPTED TO BE ARRANGED OVER A WINDING IN SAIDSLOT, SAID SLOT WEDGE CONSISTING OF A RECTANGULAR STICK MEMBER HAVING APAIR OF LATERALLY EXTENDING WING PORTIONS ADAPTED TO PROJECT BEYOND SAIDSLOT, EACH SAID WING PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH A NOTCH THEREIN, AN ENDINSULATOR MEMBER HAVING A